“Global Meetings Industry Day is important for our industry. It not only draws attention to the highly valuable role of the meetings sector worldwide, it also brings the hearts and minds of the global industry together,” says Carina Bauer, CEO of the IMEX Group.

Bauer made this observation while reaffirming the Group’s full support for Global Meetings Industry Day, which this year is on Thursday 6 April, before adding. “It is because we, as a Group, are committed to the advancement of the industry that we support this annual initiative wholeheartedly.”

The IMEX Group has been making its own particular contribution to the advancement of the industry each year for the last 15 years. Alongside the IMEX in Frankfurt trade show where the global meetings industry comes together from across the world, is the annual IMEX Politicians Forum. Each year this gathering has brought more than 40 representatives of governments and government agencies together with around 80 industry leaders to provide a platform for dialogue and a focus for advocacy efforts. It highlights the valuable, wide-ranging contribution that the meetings and events industry makes to national and regional economies as well as sharing best practice.

At this year’s IMEX Opening Ceremony and IMEX Politicians Forum on Tuesday 16 May, the keynote speaker will be Professor Greg Clark CBE, a leading advisor, advocate and mentor on cities and businesses. He will address topics including: Urbanization and Globalizing Cities, Populism and Anti-Globalization; Nations and Cities; City Success and the Meetings Industry; and Making the Marriage between City Government and Meetings Industry Work. On this particular subject he will emphasize the need for city governments to properly estimate the value of the meetings industry and, equally, for meetings industry leaders to organize effective advocacy for their sector.

Bauer adds: “As a global cities expert, Greg has significant insight into the role of meetings and events in transforming the economic future of cities across the world. It will be fascinating to hear his views and the contributions of the politicians, government agencies and the industry in response. It will be a very interesting discussion.”

Further information about Global Meetings Industry Day is available here.